TMC is an independent, primarily volunteer organization that relies on ad revenue to cover its operating costs. Please consider whitelisting TMC on your ad blocker and becoming a Supporting Member. For more info: Support TMC

Suggested Supercharger locations, Melbourne only.

The latest update from Tesla has asked for Melbourne Supercharger locations. I can think of 2 areas:
Airport - always useful, not all owners live in Melbourne but do use the airport
Central - I have a personal interest in this location as I live around the corner, however Kings Way Officeworks carpark is close to all freeway access (CityLink ramp within 1km) and on a bust main arterial road passed by tens of thousands every day. It also has big BMW and Mercedes dealers in the same road so is a 'prestige vehicle' street, it would be good to have a reminder that Tesla are around in that area. I don't know if Officeworks are even interested but it looks like a good spot.

The latest update from Tesla has asked for Melbourne Supercharger locations. I can think of 2 areas:
Airport - always useful, not all owners live in Melbourne but do use the airport
Central - I have a personal interest in this location as I live around the corner, however Kings Way Officeworks carpark is close to all freeway access (CityLink ramp within 1km) and on a bust main arterial road passed by tens of thousands every day. It also has big BMW and Mercedes dealers in the same road so is a 'prestige vehicle' street, it would be good to have a reminder that Tesla are around in that area. I don't know if Officeworks are even interested but it looks like a good spot.

Click to expand...

Somewhere adjacent to the Western Ring Road (Airport area) would be logical, because it would cater for many travellers passing through from the Hume, Western & Princes Highways.

The Office Works site in South Melbourne fits very well, being on Kingsway (a major arterial), however lacks 24/7 toilet & food facility in the neighbourhood.

There's no 24 hour toilets at the Kingsway location but there are lots of small cafes, many open late. There's a petrol station on the other side of Kingsway open 24/7 with toilets.

Click to expand...

This is where local knowledge is invaluable to Tesla's Supercharger Program Manager, Evan Beaver. I don't have an awareness of the area, but, a SC somewhere East of the city, adjacent to the Monash & Eastern Freeways, would seem logical. Am only guessing - would you be somewhere near Hallam ? Could that also help in catering for Mornington Peninsular folk ?

This is where local knowledge is invaluable to Tesla's Supercharger Program Manager, Evan Beaver. I don't have an awareness of the area, but, a SC somewhere East of the city, adjacent to the Monash & Eastern Freeways, would seem logical. Am only guessing - would you be somewhere near Hallam ? Could that also help in catering for Mornington Peninsular folk ?

Not sure about Melbourne (other than the Tesla service centre, seems to be in Clifton Hill?) but around the state I think Apollo Bay would be perfect for a charger, great for those doing the Great Ocean Road. With a Geelong SC servicing the Bellarine Peninsula and Torquay/Angelsea.

Of course Australia isn't anywhere near as populated as the USA but the GOR is the driving road in Australia, it makes sense to make the route supercharged and then Tesla can tell all new owners to go take a drive along it and try out the car.

110km from Geelong to Apollo Bay
186km from Melbourne to Apollo Bay (Via M1 & GOR)
160km from Apollo Bay to Warrnambool, traditional end of GOR drives.
[84km from Apollo Bay to 12 Apostles carpark (another potential location, given it is the major stop, no shops though, so perhaps a destination charger or two instead of a SC)]
194km from Warrnambool to Geelong (for an alternate shorter return route) via Princes Highway

So a SC at Apollo Bay and Warrnambool, with a Geelong SC as infill in a year or two later for Model III.

As an addendum a SC could be located in Mount Gambier, South Australia being 180km from Warrnambool. Although probably more as an infil site in 2 years rather than in immediate need of a SC.

This is where local knowledge is invaluable to Tesla's Supercharger Program Manager, Evan Beaver. I don't have an awareness of the area, but, a SC somewhere East of the city, adjacent to the Monash & Eastern Freeways, would seem logical. Am only guessing - would you be somewhere near Hallam ? Could that also help in catering for Mornington Peninsular folk ?

Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking. Maybe around Dandenong North? Near Monash & Eastlink freeways.

The priority locations are to link up with Canberra (and Sydney beyond) and Adelaide as well as a Great Ocean Road route.

For the Melb - Canberra (Syd) route there is Wangaratta (252km from Melb) which is 410km from Canberra. In the future a SC at Albury/Wodonga or Gundagai could be an infill site for the Model III.
For the Melb - Adelaide route there is Horsham (300km from Mel, 427km to Adel) and Bordertown (156km to Horsham, 271km to Adelaide) Bordertown could probably be delayed considering Horsham is roughly in the middle but pushing range limits to/from Adelaide.

So that is 3, possibly 4 superchargers (not including a city Melbourne, Canberra or Adelaide SC) plus a priority SC at Apollo Bay for a Great Ocean Road route within the first 6 months or a year, depending how quickly Tesla wants to establish those routes.

The priority list expanding outward from Melbourne:Apollo Bay - Opens up the Great Ocean Road for Teslas, perfect for tourists/daytrips and services the coastal towns.Bendigo - Destination and to service people in the area, expands range into central & northern VictoriaWangaratta - Main SC location between Melbourne and Canberra/Sydney. Also on the way to the snowfields at Mt Buffalo & Falls Creek (137km), having it running by Skiseason 2015 would be a bonus.Horsham - Main SC location between Melbourne and Adelaide. Opens up the west of the state for holidays, eg: Grampians.Bordertown - SC location between Melbourne and Adelaide. Could possibly be an infill location later on depending on range anxiety.Warrnambool - End of the Great Ocean Road, destination for holidays. Provides a shorter route to Geelong via Princes Highway once GOR has been driven. Gives access to west of state. (230km to Horsham, 265Km to Melbourne)Mildura - North of the state, 401km from Bendigo, 396km from Adelaide, provides an interior route to Adelaide or southern NSW, destination for holidays.Traralgon - Opens the east of the state throughout GippslandLakes Entrance - Popular destination, coverage for East Gippsland and a step for a coastal Mel - Syd route in the future (300Km to Bega)Ballarat - Destination for weekends, people living in the surrounding area and as an infill location for the Adelaide route.Geelong - Throughfare location, services Torquay, Angelsea, Queenscliff and the Bellarine Peninsular. Seymour - Infill location, services central Victoria and route to Canberra/Sydney.Albury/Wodonga - Infill location, services Melbourne to Canberra/Sydney route.Shepparton/Echuca - Infill location, hub for northern central Victoria but could be relocated to Echuca to fill in coverage gaps.Mt. Gambier - Infill location, coastal route from Melbourne to Adelaide (180Km to Bordertown, 185Km to Warrnambool)Ouyen - Infill location for route to Mildura. (300km to Bendigo, 100Km to Mildura, 376Km to Adelaide, 210Km to Horsham) not really needed, 2+ years.

Map of Victoria and surrounds: [Edit: Realisticly green locations should be within Year 1, orange within year 2 and red year 2+, given Tesla will be building nationwide with majority of focus on NSW and Vic and probably surrounding Perth]

Map of Victoria and surrounds with 100km radius of all locations (plus added locations in Adelaide, Canberra, Sydney, Ouyen (Vic), Golburn (NSW), Cambelltown (NSW), Bega (NSW)) and with the Shepparton SC moved to Echuca. Possibly how Victoria could look in 3+ years:

The priority list expanding outward from Melbourne:Apollo Bay - Opens up the Great Ocean Road for Teslas, perfect for tourists/daytrips and services the coastal towns.Bendigo - Destination and to service people in the area, expands range into central & northern VictoriaWangaratta - Main SC location between Melbourne and Canberra/Sydney. Also on the way to the snowfields at Mt Buffalo & Falls Creek (137km), having it running by Skiseason 2015 would be a bonus.Horsham - Main SC location between Melbourne and Adelaide. Opens up the west of the state for holidays, eg: Grampians.Bordertown - SC location between Melbourne and Adelaide. Could possibly be an infill location later on depending on range anxiety.Warrnambool - End of the Great Ocean Road, destination for holidays. Provides a shorter route to Geelong via Princes Highway once GOR has been driven. Gives access to west of state. (230km to Horsham, 265Km to Melbourne)Mildura - North of the state, 401km from Bendigo, 396km from Adelaide, provides an interior route to Adelaide or southern NSW, destination for holidays.Traralgon - Opens the east of the state throughout GippslandLakes Entrance - Popular destination, coverage for East Gippsland and a step for a coastal Mel - Syd route in the future (300Km to Bega)Ballarat - Destination for weekends, people living in the surrounding area and as an infill location for the Adelaide route.Geelong - Throughfare location, services Torquay, Angelsea, Queenscliff and the Bellarine Peninsular. Seymour - Infill location, services central Victoria and route to Canberra/Sydney.Albury/Wodonga - Infill location, services Melbourne to Canberra/Sydney route.Shepparton/Echuca - Infill location, hub for northern central Victoria but could be relocated to Echuca to fill in coverage gaps.Mt. Gambier - Infill location, coastal route from Melbourne to Adelaide (180Km to Bordertown, 185Km to Warrnambool)Ouyen - Infill location for route to Mildura. (300km to Bendigo, 100Km to Mildura, 376Km to Adelaide, 210Km to Horsham) not really needed, 2+ years.

If the Supercharger went into Bright it could service both Falls Creek and Hotham as well as X country skiers on Buffalo. Reasonably close to Wangaratta if it goes there but an S60 would need something before Wangaratta going up and coming off the mountains

I think Wang is close enough for the ski fields, the 60Kw is ~322km range, sure, if it is cold and going up hill that'll lessen the range but Wangaratta to Falls Creek (furthest of the three resorts) is 137Km. I think a SC at Seymour would suit the Model IIIs in a few years, they should be able to make Melbourne to Wang no worries.

Hotham Village is at 1862m elevation, Falls Creek village 1600m while Wangaratta is 154m, so that is quite a climb for the car. A 274km round trip (to Falls) plus climbing should cover the ~322km range of a 60Kw battery as long as owners 'fill up' at Wang beforehand. Then again, if you're going to the snow you'll have a car full of skis, snowboards and luggage. Destination chargers at Falls Creek, Hotham and Mt Beauty might be cheaper for Tesla with a Bright SC added in a couple of years if there is demand.

Edit: Fair enough, I'll add it to my map for later on. VVV Probably just a 2 Stall charger though.

I think Wang is close enough for the ski fields, the 60Kw is ~322km range, sure, if it is cold and going up hill that'll lessen the range but Wangaratta to Falls Creek (furthest of the three resorts) is 137Km. I think a SC at Seymour would suit the Model IIIs in a few years, they should be able to make Melbourne to Wang no worries.

Hotham Village is at 1862m elevation, Falls Creek village 1600m while Wangaratta is 154m, so that is quite a climb for the car. A 274km round trip (to Falls) plus climbing should cover the ~322km range of a 60Kw battery as long as owners 'fill up' at Wang beforehand. Then again, if you're going to the snow you'll have a car full of skis, snowboards and luggage. Destination chargers at Falls Creek, Hotham and Mt Beauty might be cheaper for Tesla with a Bright SC added in a couple of years if there is demand.

Click to expand...

Yes, that's why Bright would be a useful charging point. It means a trip to Falls creek via Tawonga Gap but it covers both major resorts with all that climbing - it'll be cold too so reduced battery efficiency

Summary:8 superchargers to connect Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide, not including chargers in each city. (+ Apollo Bay/Great Ocean Road SC)8 superchargers to fill out map and connect more towns and cities, coverage for eastern Victoria, establishes coastal route from Melbourne to Canberra/Sydney & Alpine route from Albury/Wodonga to Jindabyne.7 superchargers to infill locations on existing routes for Model III/60Kw battery cars. Opens up coverage to northern Vic. Broken Hill & Hay included but probably not needed for years.

I've thought some more, Myrtleford rather than Bright would allow a direct trip to either Hotham or Falls Creek without crossing over Tawonga Gap, although Bright is a 12 month holiday destination, Myrtleford isn't.